Oldsmobile Intrigue

dindak

I got $3K off in negotiation and 5.9% for 5 years. Not much of a deal at all for me but as much as it sickened me to see them sold with 0% +, I love the car and have no regrets.

taycron

I will be changing my transmission fluid and filter soon because it shifts a little weird at 40mph.. Should I use the regular recommended fluid or is there a synthetic (they may even advise synthetic) tranny fluid that would work better?

I know that some of the aftermarket wonder products can make things worse..

vinney2

I have seen several references to head lamp flicker with a TSB. My 99 is doing it when cold.
Drove it last night @ 22 deg F and it was quite noticeable. Can someone give me a TSB site and ref number. I have a low mileage 99 (35K). Have replaced O2 sensor,clunkey strut fix,ill fitting doors. Thats about all. Original tires. I still like to drive it.

jjpowell2

This may be covered by the Oldsmobile "silent" warranty. Check with your nearby dealer. The TSB is 01-06-03-001.

Good Luck.

evandro

Some swear by synthetic, but I prefer conventional Dexron III or IV.

redline65

A bench seat, your kidding right? What an abortion that would have been in a car like the Intrigue.

LOL!

evandro

Any chance on getting the text of that TSB posted somewhere?

Does the "hidden warranty" apply to the 2nd owner as well?

TIA

evandro

Has anybody experienced a play in the ISS? My Intrigue has this issue. The dealer didn't find anything wrong with the steering rack and thinks that it's between the steering wheel and the rack itself, probably a worn U-joint in the ISS.

I'm trying to prioritize the issues on my Intrigue and I think that this one ranks at the top, followed by:
- lights flicker/bad alternator
- noisy ABS pump
- noisy front struts when turning
- burnt lights in radio and AC

TIA

redline65

Do you mean the steering wheel turns too easily? The Intrigue has variable speed steering assist (Magnasteer II?) that gives the steering a really loose feel at low speeds. Has your steering always had "play" or is this a new problem? My experience with ISS issues has been a popping noise in the steering, but not excessive play.

evandro

No, it's a play as when going on the highway and being able to jog the steering wheel about 1/2 to 3/4" from side to side without changing the vehicle's trajectory. It can be quite annoying with side winds...

At first, I suspect bad tie-rods, but they were fine and, according to the dealer mechanic, there was no play at the steering shaft as it enters the steering rack.

It doesn't have the popping noise, but I'm wondering whether it having not been fixed by the previous owner developed this play, if it's possible...

Then again, the steering wheel nut may be loose... or may it?

pat

If you ask in Technical Service Bulletins, alcan or 0patience will post the text.

moonshadow

I had this in my trig since new. Drive down the highway and you can rock the wheel between almost 11 and 1 o'clock and nothing. Dealer said no prob., normal. Regional service guy that is paid to say no said ... you guessed it "no prob." They tried to tell me it was maggot steer.

It drove me nuts that a new car would be so sloppy, however, i just recently replaced my rsa's with non rsa's at 35000 klics and that problem has diminished to almost negliable. Now when i touch the wheel to shift the car over a foot or so, it actually moves over, What a novel idea. Go figure as i can't, unless the sidewalls were so stiff that they resisted turning. Have no idea, just that it is 1000 % better.

Also the "feel every crack in the road" affect is gone as well. I don't have to grit my teeth and wait for the impact thrashing every time i see a crack coming down the road. Feels like i replaced my struts, ball joints and tie rods. I never thought a tire could so advesely destoy a cars ride, but the RSA's can.
 
RSA= Really Stinking Awfull.

I know some people love em, and swear by them, but after throwing them away, I have a brand new car.

Martypa

with you Moonshadow. I just put Michelin Pilot HX's on my 00 GLS and cannot believe the difference. I cannot drive the car enough since getting the new tires. The difference is substantial-even accounting for all the snow that has been dumped on us since getting the new rubber. What is scary is that replacement RSA's cost nearly as much as the Pilots, and are nothing but junk!

evandro

That's pretty much what I was told, up to 2" play is normal. Yeah, right.

But riding with the mechanic, he told me that it's probably within spec and that even if replacing the ISS I can end up with the same issue with the new part.

However, my Intrigue has been wearing a set of Yokohama Avid Touring and it's been very smooth and quiet, unlike the OEM Eagle LS.

moonshadow

Well if anything its good to see that gm is consistant with their bs., both here in the great white north and down south.

-2 inch play in the steering wheel is normal.
-headlights flickering is normal.
-lubricating steering column periodically is normal.

It may be normal for GM but that dosen't make it right.

Me thinks my next car will be abnormal.

Sorry. My rant dosen't help you.

rhall4

I would recheck the tierod ends, it sounds
exactally like mine did when mine went out at
around 55,000 Km, does it wouble around when you get
in behind an 18 wheeler on the freeway say back
about 20 feet off the bumper of the truck, was tierods on mine but visual inspection looked good
give them a good hard yank and see if there is any popping sound comming from them, bet there will be,

 I replaced all my Crap GM rotors and installed Hi performance ceramic pads with perelli P6000
Sport Velocee Tires last fall, you would never
know it was the same car, man what a differance.
 ISS was just replace at 66000Km under good faith warranty as I had demanded it be replaced when it went at 38000Km GM Refused at 66000 the trouble
returned and the shaft was severly scored requiring replacement,I had documented the first incedent well, guess the lubrication didn't work after all. [:( ]

focus

it seems Vcjumper also bought these pads for $650 compare to the $125 you paid?
rhall4: are you driving the p6000 in the winter?

vcjumper

That was for four raybestos quiet stop ceramic pads, cross drilled/slotted rotors, and installation.

v8lincolnguy

When I traded my Intrigue at 35K the tires were just about bald. While they handled well, they were noisy and you felt every rut and tar strip on the road. While some of that is attributed to the car's stiff suspension, I think the tires were partly to blame as well.

dindak

We have almost 80K kms on the OEMs, still running strong. Best winter grip I have seen in an all season.

evandro

I believe that the tie rods are fine. I had checked them before taking the car to the dealer and they seemed fine to me even when lifting the car.

rhall4

Yes I am driving the perelli's in the winter, but I deal mostly with wet pavement around here and these tires are excellent, there ok on snow too better then the LS tires ever were. The $125 was cost price for
the front pads only and that Jobber cost, the total
for rotors front and rear and ceramic pads all around was closer to vcjumpers price, I think my
my jobber cost was around $525 complete for the brakes, no labour as one of my CORL Racing
Associates,
( Morin tire and alingnment) does my brake and tire work free gratus.

rhall4

OK
Good Luck with your Quest, Theres no way I could live with 2" of dead play in my wheel, if mine had more then 1/2" either side of Centre I would consider it sloppy. Good Luck

v8lincolnguy

I don't recall much play in the steering of my Intrigue. In fact, the overall steering feel was quite good. Especially for a FWD car.

bravedave

... that the new Buick LaCrosse from the windshield back looks very similar to the Intrigue?

smithburg

When I fill my 98 intrigue with gas too fast it stops the automatic nozzle. This does it on the slowest setting on the nozzle. What do I need to do to fix this?

taycron

I had the same problem with a different car. I think it had something to do with air.. anyways, the only way I could fill my car was to turn the handle upside down... I have no cure though..

evandro

It looks nice inside, but the outside looks too much like a Taurus... :-/

evandro

It has nothing to do with your car, most likely with the pumps at the gas station you usually stop at. It's often more likely to happen when the tank is below 1/4 and the fumes in it contribute to trigger the spill over protection sooner than necessary.

Martypa

to pull the nozzle back slightly and use the medium setting. I had the same problem on my 98 Intrigue, but not my 00.

v8lincolnguy

I just checked out the pics of the LaCrosse at the Chicago auto show pics section and I can see alot of Intrigue in the side glass. Not a bad looking sedan in the pics. I'll be curious to see one in person. Looks like a good mix and Buick and Intrigue. Wonder how one with the 3.6 liter engine will perform. I do wish they would have gone to a 5 speed automatic, at least with the uplevel engine though. Althought I read that Ford and GM are working on a joint venture 6 speed automatic for both front and rear wheel drive applications(with GM taking the design lead on the FWD units) so maybe that will find it's way in the LaCrosse in a year or so.

evandro

I like its interior a lot, more Olds-ish and less Buick-ish. However, from the outside, it looks a lot like a Taurus...

dekester

I check them out a couple times a week and am surprised at some of the mileage on these cars. Pretty much 50K+ with a few real low mileage 98 and 99s.

Trying to get an idea what my 98 would fetch in the open market should I find something I just have to have - like the '05 Mustang!

I figure a 98 base, 3.8, 35600 miles, no body damage save a few door dings, spoiler, AM/FM/Cassette/CD, FM "diversity" (rear-window) antenna should get about $6G. Sound like I'm near the ballpark?

Deke

dekester

Going to the shop to drain and replace the factory coolant on the 98 tomorrow - been five years and manual says to replace. Is it compulsive to do a power flush or will a simple drain and refill with fresh suffice? Mech told me he doesn't have the equipment for a power flush.

Of course, because of the Dex Cool, it'll run me about $20 more than the usual of $39.95.

Also, the price of a Mobil 1 oil change has gone up, too - from $34.95 to $39.95. Beats the local "quick lube" place that charges $51.99 for a Mobil 1 change...

I'll have the Yokohamas rotated, too (5500 miles on them) another $20 or so, plus a tip and we're talking a cool $120.00 for about an hour's work...

If I only had a garage and the proper equipment - AND lived in a warm climate - I'd do it all myself.

Deke

vcjumper

Just had mine changed for the second time at ~80,000 miles. Was pretty filthy :-).

dekester, in my limited experence, a flush does do a better job than just dropping the pan.

evandro

The power flush I saw being done on my Intrigue was just a reservoir up high with new coolant and the engine itself would flush the old coolant out.

As for having the tires rotated, NTB in my area does that for free.

dekester

I was talking about the radiator - were you thinking the tranny?

I think with 35600 miles it's not time to replace tranny fluid since it's still clean.

Deke

mfletouva

My '02 GL was hit while parked in an ally. A lady in a Honda CR-V simply backed right into it and put a good sized dent behind the fuel door. The scratches extend to the door and beneath the moldings and a little bit on the tail lamp. Fortunately, her insurance contacted me and is paying for all the repairs--$1061 worth. Should be a relatively easy fix.

Her insurance is also paying for a rental for today through Wed. This is where it gets interesting. The Enterprise I was using was out of full-size cars, so I was upgraded to a 'premium.' That ended up being a silver '04 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SE. Oh, man....

Quite a machine. Looks pretty unique and its really growing on me. The car is total beast, acceleration is unbelieveable. I had trouble driving it in traffic at first because it was so fast. It has a 5-speed manumatic which I am quickly falling in love with--all the fun of a stick with none of the hassle.

However, already there are things I miss about the Intrigue. Most importantly, even though statistically the Maxima is no bigger, it feels and drives WAY bigger. The turning circle is huge compared to an Intrigue. I can't make the U-turns I make every day in the Intrigue, and its tougher to drive in tight spaces, no question. The Maxy has a center control stack with a big screen that tells you all your information. It has a lot of cool stuff like trip computers, but for the radio and climate controls I'm really not sold on it. It seems uneccesarily complicated, but we'll see if I get used to it. The car does have a ton of room in it, seems roomier than the Intrigue.

It also has a the panoramic roof which is pretty cool although it doesn't open. One area that my Intrigue clearly has the Maxima beat is the stereo systems--my Bose 8-speaker 250 watt sounds much nicer than the Moss 8/260 system in the Maxima and the radio reception in the Intrigue is far superior as well.

Anyway, if my Iggy has to be in the shop, at least I have something fun to drive. We'll see how I end up liking the Maxima. For now, I have to admit its a lot of fun!

v8lincolnguy

There was someone here a while back who replaced his Intrigue with a Maxima(old body style) and he too remarked about the large turning radius. The new Maxi is quite powerful, do you notice much torque steer? Mush of the press has really ragged the car for this. My problem with the new Maxi is that for just a bit more than a loaded one will cost you, one can have a nice RWD sedan like the Infiniti G35, Cadillac CTS, or Lincoln LS. Hate to hear about your car getting hit, that would really tick me off.

Evandro, there is a mix of Taurus and MB C-class in the LaCrosse. Speaking of the Taurus, the new Ford 500 and Mercury Montego look like very nice sedans. Ford seems to really be getting their act together. I guess being overtaken by Toyota as the world's number two automaker woke some folks up in Dearborn. Anyway, my only complaint with the 500/Montego is they will be using the 200 hp Duratec V6. A smooth revving engine it is, but 200 hp is near the back of the hp race these days. And the even stranger thing is that same 3.0 liter V6 is used in the Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-type and makes close to 230 hp in those applications.

evandro

I agree 100% with your take on the 500. The very same thoughts crossed my mind when I read about it.

The interior of both, the 500's and the LaCrosse's, seem very nice, at last. The Ford's still looks a notch lower in sophistication, though.

The V6's 220-230HP versions use cam phasing and are more expensive. Ford should at least offer one of these in higher trims.

The 220HP is used in the Mazda 6, but it needs to be kept above 4000RPM to haul the car (peak torque at 5000RPM). Thus, a bad choice for a heavier car as the 500.

taycron

I had my tranny fluid and filter changed because the tranny felt odd around 40mph (abrupt shifting). Changing the fluid didn't do anything but it was dirty and needed it. My mechanic said I should ask the dealership if there has been a computer upgrade for my car.. I really didn't understand this too much.. I just might have to take it to a dealership and have them hook it up and check the tranny with their computer.. I just hope they don't drain my wallet..

jjpowell2

I've waited a few days to report on our last extended trip to the shop. Our whirrrr noise and harsh shift from 1-2 turned out to be very nasty. It was such a good thing that we were less than a mile from the dealer's shop. The car went in on Thursday and we got it back on Tuesday. Seems some teeth broke off and there was debris throughout. Lots of new parts and luckily we're still under warranty. Same thing happened last year but they only replaced one solenoid.

Strange thing is that they re-lubed the ISS while it was there. We've already had it replaced and wonder if this will be part of normal maintenance now?

Have to wait to see how it runs after a week or so. Doesn't seem quite right going into reverse. Our loaner was a 2004 Malibu - 4 cylinder/base model. Really not too bad and it made it so nice to be back in the 'trig!!

v8lincolnguy

Were your harsh shifts intermittent or did it do it all the time? What mine would do is it would drive fine all day, then one trip when you start it up, upshifts felt as if they were slamming into gear. There was also a very noticeable "whine" that varied with engine speed. Park the car and drive it again a little while later and everything shifted fine. Two rebuilds and a solenoid later and it started slipping. When cold, accelerate and the engine would rev but little forward movement. Then it had that "grabbing" sensation just like a manual with a bad cluth feels when you are engaging it. When the car was warm, shifted fine. But cold, it would do this. Finally after two attempts at the dealer not being able to fix this(could not duplicate because the car was warm when I drove in in), I let them keep it over night and drive it the next morning. Funny thing, first day they had it and did that, they called me later in the day to say the transmission needs to be replaced. Not trying to scare you, just wanted to let you know what mine did. I hope yours gets fixed right the first time. Had mine, I might still be an Intrigue owner today.

jjpowell2

I remember your troubles. We had nearly the exact condition as you and I think the whole transmission was re-built. I was too upset to talk to the service manager when we picked it up. I just told them we want it to work right. The reason the shifts were smooth after being parked is because the solenoid would re-set. We had to stop and turn the car off several times so it could do this. We'll see how it goes.

taycron

My car always does it at 40mph.. especially if I hover over 40mph.. Personally, i don't know the difference between a slip and a slam.. LOL!.. It feels like the tranny gets confused when it gets to 40mph and then finds overdrive.. It's hard to explain.. It's annoying as hell and I hope I don't need to replace it..

1olds

My 2000 Intrigue would surge between 35 and 40 mph like it was looking for a gear,the tach would go up and down,took to dealer a number of times and no trouble found.naturally when it was out of warranty I took it again and they said the computer needed to be reprogramed,156.00.ever since then it shifts great and no surging.hope this helps taycron.

taycron

Thank You 1olds.. I'll have that looked at...

redline65

My tranny slips sometimes if I go from reverse to drive, and then press the gas immediately. It's like it doesn't engage, then it engages, then disengages. So I usually wait a second after I shift into drive from reverse. Anyone else experience this?

v8lincolnguy

When mine was slipping, you would accelerate and the engine would rev but the car did not move forward or moved forward very slowly. When it was "slamming" into gear, you could literally feel the transmission as it went into each gear.

taycron

My car isn't as bad, lincolnguy.. It's pretty constant at 40mph.. Sometimes it has a very slight delay when I hit the gas first thing in the morning but it's nothing bad.. I'm hoping that getting the computer reprogrammed will help..